1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
   I moved to Canada. It was scary, exciting and a extremely different lifestyle that I needed to get accustomed to quickly.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
   Trying to find a job in Canada! A lot of recruiters kept telling me that it would be difficult to find a job as I had no Canadian experience or Canadian credit history. It really dampened my spirits for a long time but I was able to find a job in the end!

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
   Haha isn’t “unexpected joy” usually in reference to a baby??? That is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN LIKE A BILLION YEARS. Anyway, I suppose it was when I was able to find a job in Canada.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
   I’m not really sure? I knew establishing a new life in Canada would be hard (finding a job, finding a place to live, finding new friends, familiarising myself with the city).

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
   Different, cold, exciting.

6. Pick a theme song that describes 2009.
   Not sure about a particular song.. But for sure the Ministry of Sound Annual 2009 CD1!

7. What were the best books you read this year?
   RED DRESS WALKING – This book really made me think about the way relationships work. They definitely take two people, and miscommunication is so easy to let it get in the way of things.

   Marley & Me – such a cute book!

   The Pact is another book that stood out for me but I didn’t quite like the ending but I liked the issues that the author raised.
   

8. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
   My SGI family who really helped me in Toronto. My bf and his family for being there for me and also being my other family.

9. In what way did you grow emotionally?
   I have definitely matured a lot since I’ve left Australia and am now living on my own. I believe I am more independent and appreciative of what I already had. I grew to appreciate my parents, that money doesn’t come by so easily, and is very easy to spend. I finally realised how hard it must’ve been for my parents to move from Malaysia to Australia to start a brand new life. I also learned to be more considerate of others going through the same hardships. So many people had lost their jobs in the financial crisis and trying to live life without an income is extremely difficult.

10. In what way did you grow in your relationships with others?
    Having matured a lot, I learned to be a better daughter, sister, girlfriend, friend to everybody, while realising I still have a long way to go. I am appreciative of everybody’s support for me. It has helped me so much to grow as a person and I am who I am because of all the people around me.

11. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
    Getting new furniture for my own bedroom was fun! I was Ikea shopping a lot.. Hahahaa.. But the kitchen too! I never knew how to cook before I moved to Canada so I am proud that I can now live quite comfortably with feeding myself. The first time I cooked for myself literally was in the first week I was alone in Canada… Thank you to my mummy for all her tips over Skype. Haha!

12. What was your most challenging area of home management?
    I am a spoilt child because my mother had always cleaned up after us at home. Moving away meant I had to do everything myself. So going from cleaning NOTHING to cleaning EVERYTHING was huge for me but it’s definitely becoming a good habit of mine. While I’m incredibly lazy, I don’t like to be dirty, cleaning hasn’t been too hard….. Except for getting myself to clean the toilet…. So gross!!! Everytime I think it’s time to clean it I definitely ponder whether I want to hire someone to do it for me. Hahahaha. So bad!

13. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
    Annoying people! For sure! People who only think of themselves. I’ve tried my best to not let them get to me. But they’re the biggest waste of my energy! I have a tendency to get easily frustrated with them. Haha.. Must change!
    
    I also realised how much time cooking takes! OMG! Sometimes I come home and I just want to eat RIGHT AWAY. I now know that that can’t happen. Hahaha… I also realised how much effort cleaning takes! OMG! Hahaha…. All my time just passes so quickly. Oh dear.
    
    
14. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
    I’ve caught up on a lot of tv shows! While you might think that’s a waste of time, I’ve been watching 30 Rock which makes me happy because it’s so hilarious and shows like FNL teach me a lot about people. So I don’t think they’re a waste of time at all! Haha!
    
    I also got to do a lot of reading. Books are fantastic.
    
    
15. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.
    How about I pick two quotes that meant a lot to me for 2009? I’m not really creative enough to create a statement myself! Haha.

    “Everything depends on what is in our hearts. If we decide to ourselves that something is impossible, then, consistent with our minds in thinking so, even something that is possible for us will become impossible. On the other hand, if we have the confidence that we can definitely do something, then we are already one step closer to achieving it in reality.” – Daisaku Ikeda

    “The place where you are now is vital. Never avoid what you must face. Challenge your circumstances and steadily persevere. The path toward victory opens from where you stand.” – Daisaku Ikeda

    I read theses quotes a lot whenever I felt defeated. I visited http://www.ikedaquotes.org/ a lot for his wisdom which provided me a lot of inspiration and hope. In turn that motivated me to live my life to the fullest. Thank you so much to SGI. <3

On the Eve of New Year 2010, I went to Nathan Phillips Square to see the fireworks. It doesn’t compare at all to the fireworks we get in Australia, but it was still pretty.

And I kinda got to see Kardinal Offishall perform. Hahaha

Anyway – here’s a photo of Toronto City Hall.

This is me waiting for the countdown. I look all rugged up, but it wasn’t too cold. It was about 2 degrees and there were light flurries.

Here’s some photos of the fireworks at City Hall.

I wanted to get a photo of the skating rink and as I approached it, I was too excited. I kept walking towards it until I stepped onto the ice without realising and fell straight on my ass! My initial and only thoughts was “PROTECT CAMERA” and as I was holding my camera with my right hand, I fell towards my left side and hurt my elbow… It still hurts 11 days later! Hahaha…

Here are some photos of the ice when most people had left.

On the way back from Atlantic City, James’ mom drove us to the New Jersey Premium Outlets. There was an additional 50% off the sale price! Crazy. I got myself the below heart pendant. It’s gorgeous.. And massive!

But if you think that’s massive, James’ mom got herself an even bigger crystal! I don’t have any pics of it, but it was pretty too.

As a Christmas present to myself, I bought the Tiffany & Co Return to Tiffany Mini Lock on a Bead Bracelet which now matches both of my necklaces, the Return to Tiffany Heart Lock Pendant and the Return to Tiffany Heart Tag Pendant on a Bead Necklace.

It’s so cute!

As  much as I love my Marc by Marc Jacobs Turnlock wallet, I’ve been looking for a new wallet to replace it for over a year now. Because it is made of an incredible soft leather in cream, it instantly got ruined. All the dirt and grum of handling it day by day has coated it and made it completely grungy. But not only that, in the same week that I purchased the wallet – I managed to get ballpoint pen scribbled all over it and have never managed to get it off since!

I’m really particular about my accessories, so I’ve been looking hard for a replacement. There hasn’t been anything that I’ve really liked, but had been eyeing an LV wallet because I know two people who have said that their wallets have lasted over ten years! That’s definitely a lot longer than a week of ruining my MJ wallet! Now that is durable!

The LV wallets I’ve seen are pretty chunky, or are tri-fold, or don’t have much room for cards, or don’t have a zip for coins. But in Atlantic City, James and I were shopping at Caesers and I saw that the LV had my perfect wallet! Except it only came in Monogram :( And when we hurried to Sak’s, they couldn’t find the Damier Ebene either.Sad sad! We waited around for about 15 minutes for them to check all their drawers for it (their system said they had two) but it just could not be found. But as we were about to leave, they found it! YAY!!!!!! So JT got it for me for Chrissy and he got himself the sunnies which I reckon looks pretty good on him.

Anyway.. THANKS BABY. I LOVE IT. <3

Photos are below!

I went home and took another photo of it. White background looks cool, doesn’t it? Haha.

On the way back to NYC, I really wanted to go to Fifth Ave. It was too packed with people and traffic that we only could manage to go to Sak’s Fifth Ave although I wish we could’ve gone to a lot more stores like A&F and Henri Bendel.

Nevertheless, we still got to drive down Fifth Ave. It’s such a happyland for me. Pretty holiday lights, decorations and Christmas Windows. How could you not feel joyful?

This is what Sak’s looks like at this time of the year:

I didn’t get to look at the Christmas windows that Sak’s had to offer but I saw some of the mannequins dressed in hot red. Love.

We also managed to get a glimpse of the Rockefeller Tree. Yayyyyy.

Then Aunty Glenda & Uncle Jovin took me to eat Malaysian food. Yayyyy what a happy day. Here’s what I had (Har Mee). I was craving this since the morning so I was really excited when they asked if I wanted to eat Malaysian food. Haha.

James had Beef Rendang:

Then we all shared Ais Kachang.. Yum yum.

On the way back to New York from Atlantic City, we stopped by and had breakky at Denny’s, a typical American diner that serves breakfast all day long! Yummmm.

The food was gigantic, to the least! American diners are proof of why Americans are extremely obese!

These are the steak & eggs:

This is my Heartland Scramble (Pancakes, Omelet, Harshbrown & Bacon). I was shoving all my bacon on James’ plate.

Then after such a huge meal we knocked out.. hahaha.

The night of Boxing Day, we went to Caesers hotel. The tree looks so amazing!

Then we had dinner there. Was delicious as it looks! Below is duck, seafood bowl, beef chow fun and mango pudding. Yum yum yum.